Chapter 14

 

5. If at any time it shall be deemed necessary by the Company or their servants to carry any part of the said main or branch lines of the said Electro-Telegraphic communication through or over any estate, lands, or grounds, being private property, it shall be lawful for the said Company, by their agents or servants, to enter into and upon the said lands of any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, as they shall think necessary for the making, completing, maintaining, or repairing the said line or lines, and on such lands to set-up, construct, or build such posts, buildings or others erection as may be necessary for such line or the branches thereof, and do all others matters and things which the said Company shall think convenient and necessary for the making, extending and easy using of the said Electric-Telegraph or its branches, or the works connected therewith, they, the said company, doing as little damage as may be in the execution of the several powers to them hereby granted, and agreeing with the owner or owners, occupier or occupiers of such private property, as to the amount of compensation to be paid to such owner or owners respectively; and in case of disagreement as to the amount of damages or compensation to be paid by the said Company, then the amount of such damages or compensation shall be ascertained and determined by three arbitrators, one to be chosen by the said Corporation, or their agent or servant, and one by the owner or occupier of the said private or corporate property in question, which two arbitrators so chosen, shall chose a third arbitrator; and in case the two first mentioned arbitrators shall not agree in the choice of a third arbitrator, then and in such case it shall and may be lawful for the Lieutenant Governor or Administrator of the Government for the time being, upon application of the said Corporation, to appoint a third arbitrator; and the award of the said arbitrators, or any two of them, shall be final and conclusive in the matters referred to them; and in case any of the said owners or occupiers of such private or corporate property shall decline making any such agreement, or appointing such arbitrator, then and in every such case the said Corporation shall make application to the Supreme Court of this Province, or to any one of the Judges thereof, stating the grounds of such application, and such Court of Judge is hereby empowered and required from time to time, upon such application, to issue a writ or warrant, directed to the Sheriff of the County or City and County in which such lands lie, or on case of his being a party interested, then to any Coroner of such County not interested, and in case of the said Sheriff and Coroner being both interested, then to some other person or persons who may be disinterested, commanding such Sheriff, Coroner, person or persons disinterested, as the case may be, to summon and empanel a Jury of twenty freeholders within the said Country, who may be altogether disinterested, which Jury upon their oath, (which oath, as well as oaths to be taken by any person or persons who shall be called upon to give evidence in the matter, the Sheriff, Coroner, or person or persons summoning such Jury, is hereby empowered to administer) shall inquire, ascertain, and assess the distinct sums of money or annual rent to be paid as the amount of compensation and satisfaction for the damages which may and shall be sustained by such owner or owners, occupier or occupiers of such private or corporate property as aforesaid; and the award, inquisition, or verdict of such Jury shall be returned and filed in the office of the Clerk of the Pleas in the said Supreme Court, and shall be final and conclusive between the parties; which amount so assessed as aforesaid, and the costs and expenses of such proceedings, when taxed and allowed by the said Supreme Court or one of the Judges thereof, shall be borne by the said Corporation, and shall be by them paid within thirty days after the said inquisition, award, or verdict shall be filed as aforesaid.

6. So soon as the main line of the communication by the said Electric Telegraph, or any part thereof, or any of its branches, shall be complete and opened, it shall and may be lawful for the said Corporation at all times to ask, demand, take, sue for, and recover to and for their own proper use, such rates, tolls, or dues for the transmission and writing out of any and every message or communication of any kind ever transmitted and conveyed at the cost and change of the said Company, by or upon the said Electric Telegraph, and such or sums of money as the said Company may think just and reasonable.

 

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